Two-year-old Aaron Odom pose for a photograph for his mother Marta Odom during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle ) less

Two-year-old Aaron Odom pose for a photograph for his mother Marta Odom during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James ... more

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The High Steppers Brass Band perform during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle ) less

The High Steppers Brass Band perform during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle ... more

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Dancers prepare to perform during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle )

Dancers prepare to perform during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle )

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Glasses to mark the new year handed out during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle ) less

Glasses to mark the new year handed out during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle ... more

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Guest watch as entertainers perform during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle ) less

Guest watch as entertainers perform during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle ... more

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Four-year-old Kaylee Brito sits on her father Eddie Brito's shoulders during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle ) less

Four-year-old Kaylee Brito sits on her father Eddie Brito's shoulders during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen ... more

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Nine-year-old Jailyn Brinson watches the stage during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle ) less

Nine-year-old Jailyn Brinson watches the stage during the Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash" at the museum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle ... more

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Indian school students hold placards during a celebration to welcome the New Year in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

Indian school students hold placards during a celebration to welcome the New Year in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

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A woman pulls a sled with a child during a heavy snowfall on the New Year's eve in Sofia, on Monday, Saturday Dec 31, 2011.

A woman pulls a sled with a child during a heavy snowfall on the New Year's eve in Sofia, on Monday, Saturday Dec 31, 2011.

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Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman greets voters at a country store in New Hampshire. He is forgoing Tuesday's caucuses in Iowa to concentrate on gaining ground in the Granite State. (AP)

Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman greets voters at a country store in New Hampshire. He is forgoing Tuesday's caucuses in Iowa to concentrate on gaining ground in the Granite State. (AP)

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People gather to count down as they celebrate the new year 2012 at the Temple of Heaven, the city's historic landmark in Beijing on January 1, 2012.

People gather to count down as they celebrate the new year 2012 at the Temple of Heaven, the city's historic landmark in Beijing on January 1, 2012.

Television personality DJ Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio arrives at the Vanity Nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to perform at "Absolution - A Symphony of Sounds" New Year's weekend on December 31, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. less

Television personality DJ Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio arrives at the Vanity Nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to perform at "Absolution - A Symphony of Sounds" New Year's weekend on December 31, 2011 in ... more

Photo: 2011 Getty Images

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A picture taken on December 31, 2009 in Ygos-Saint-Saturnin, southwestern France, shows a SMS with the New Year greetings. Millions of SMSs should be sent in the world on January 1, 2012.

A picture taken on December 31, 2009 in Ygos-Saint-Saturnin, southwestern France, shows a SMS with the New Year greetings. Millions of SMSs should be sent in the world on January 1, 2012.

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A monk strikes with a hammer a bell, hanging from a crane, to celebrate upcoming New Year at a Buddhist temple in the March 11 tsunami-hit area Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011 in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, northern Japan. The bell was found in the debris, 30 meters away from the temple. less

A monk strikes with a hammer a bell, hanging from a crane, to celebrate upcoming New Year at a Buddhist temple in the March 11 tsunami-hit area Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011 in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, northern ... more

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People dressed as the Russian Santa Claus, Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) (L) and his companion Snegurochka (Snow Maiden) (2R), take part a New Year parade in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, on December 31, 2011. New Year, which was the biggest informal holiday of the year in the former Soviet Union, is also very popular in predominantly Muslim Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan. AFP PHOTO / VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO (Photo credit should read VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO/AFP/Getty Images) less

People dressed as the Russian Santa Claus, Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) (L) and his companion Snegurochka (Snow Maiden) (2R), take part a New Year parade in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, on December 31, 2011. ... more

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Have colorful and festive new year in photos

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From Associated Press reports on the new year:

At the “Crossroads of the World” in New York City, reminders of a trying 2011 around the globe could be seen in the multi-national faces of awe-struck visitors.

Asked how his 2011 went, a Japanese tourist who gave his name as Nari didn’t know enough English to put it into words, so he whipped open his phone and displayed pictures he had taken of damage wrought by the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the island nation and his home city of Sendai.

“Not a good year,” he said.

Then he smiled and added that things are now much better.

World leaders evoked 2011’s events in their New Year’s messages this weekend. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who starts his second term on New Year’s Day, said he wants to help ensure and sustain the moves toward democracy that protesters sought in the Arab Spring.

In Hawaii, President Obama said he expects Congress to finish the job when lawmakers return to Washington in January and extend the tax cut through the end of the year.

Reflecting on 2011, Obama said it was a time of great challenge and progress, including the end of the war in Iraq, the death of Osama bin Laden and signs of an economic recovery.

Meanwhile, 200 people were hurt during gunfire and revelry in the Philippines.